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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider No ASEAN members is proxy to any country — Singaporean diplomat

No ASEAN members is proxy to any country — Singaporean diplomat

Published Apr 16, 2024 12:38 pm

No single Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member would like to become a proxy of any country, Singapore’s top diplomat said Tuesday, April 16.

Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan made such a clarification amid criticisms that the regional bloc is always silent on its collective stand in the dispute over the South China Sea.

“I believe ASEAN is united in the sense that no single ASEAN country wants to become a proxy or vessel state of any power,” Balakrishnan said in a press conference following his bilateral talk with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo.

He said as he recognized that each ASEAN member also has its own "strategic alignment" that is based on levels of proximity.

“So, you need to be able to deal with this variety internally as well as the diversity of our approaches externally,” he added.

One of the proofs that ASEAN is united, particularly in resolving the dispute is its efforts to craft a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

Balakrishnan believed that although the code of conduct "will not resolve issues of sovereignty or issues of maritime entitlement," he said it is important nevertheless "because we believe it is one way to reduce tension."

"And to reduce the possibility of complications if collisions or disputes occur in the waves of the South China Sea," he added.

He said the fact that ASEAN is successful in representing an organization that is able to encompass "great diversity of membership and still maintain sufficient discipline, coherence and relevance in maintaining peace and stability and to focus on economic integration and in expanding the range of strategic opportunities for every single member of ASEAN."

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Vivian Balakrishnan Association of Southeast Asian Nations
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